Sectional furniture



Dec. 8, 1953 R. A. LITTLE SECTIONAL FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1948 H. 4 B I I I l n o l o 0 0v 5 O M o o 2 1 *0 o n .d :0 12 in I n :I :u

Dec. 8, 1953 R. A. LITTLE SECTIONAL FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 6, 1948 VIII/III! IIIIIII INVENTOR.

ROBERT A. LITTLE BY 0% 7 {Mp4 QTTOEA/EYJ v UNITED STATES extant Patented Dec. 8, 1953 Q OFFICE 'SECT'IONAL FURNITURE Robert A. Little, o ev lana, ohio Application October s, 1948, Serial No. 53,091

4Claims. (or. 312-407") 1 The present invention, while relating generally as indicated to furniture and the method of making the same, is more especially concerned with a novel form of frame fixture and its manner of use as the basic unit about which an arfurniture of this character is its immobility and inflexibility to accommodate variation or alteration as occasioned by expansion or diversion of the business with which it is used. 'At the present time, most such furniture is so constructed that complete replacement or rebuilding thereof at great expense and delay is required in order to provide for a greater amount of one kind of space and a lesser amount of another kind of space.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this invention is to provide furniture which is so constructed that it may be quickly and inexpensively modified, added to or subtracted from to meet changing demands in the amount of space required.

Another object of this invention is to provide a frame fixture and cooperating filler units of module such that it is possible to connect several frame fixtures together and insert therein any one of several different sizes and types of filler units as desired. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide a frame fixture of such form that the vari 'ous filler units are removably supported therein by cantilever brackets whereby to allow greater flexibility and design freedom and provide a visual continuity across two or more successive frame fixtures. In other words, the structure is such that there are no intermediatepartitions between adjacent frame fixtures which would preclude the use of a filler unit extending continuously across a plurality of frame fixtures.

' Other objects and advantages of the'invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the illustrated in Figs. 5 and 9; and

features hereinafter fully described and particii larly pointed out in the'claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth ,in detailcertain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of

but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be, employed.

vInthe drawing;-

Fig. ljis 'a front lelevation viewof a typical article of furniture using several frame fixtures and having several different, filler'units supported therein; l

Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal and vertical cross section views taken substantially. along the. lines 2-2 and 3.3, Fig.1, respectively,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a glass showcase havingslicling doorsin the rear thereof;

' Fig. 6 is -a vertical cross section view of a unit similar tothat of Fig. 1 but on an enlargedscale; Fig. 'isa fragmentary vertical cross section view taken substantially along the line 1 -1,

.Fig. 6; i

Fig, 8 is a horizontal cross section view taken substantially alongthe line 8.8, Fig. 7;

Fig.9 is'a vertical cross section view of the showcase illustrated in Fig. 5, taken along a plane substantially parallel to the ends thereof;

Fig. 10 is afragmentary horizontal cross section view of one end portion of the showcase Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form offrame fixture.

Referring now to the drawings and first more particularly to Fig. 4, the frame fixture in its preferred form .comprises a pair of L-shaped members I secured in spaced and parallel relation by means of the angle iron braces 2, which L -shaped members I comprises channel mem.- .bers 3 and 4 whichare secured to one another in right angle relation, as shown, as by welding for example; The webs 5 of said members I preferably face'one another, as shown.

"Secured .to the front flange of each vertical channel member 3 is astandard 6 having a series of openings 1 therethrough for receiving the hooked ends of thebracket members 8. Said bracket members are. of various lengths and forms; forsupporting thereon any of the filler units to be described. The bracket members 8 in Fig.4 are adapted to support thereon lfiller units consistingeither of a shelf or a hang rod,

3 there being formed a groove 9 on each bracket for receiving such hang rod. Longer brackets are, of course, required for supporting wider shelves and some of the other filler units, such as drawers, bins, sliding door units, electric light 5 fixtures, etc.

The horizontal channel members 4 are each formed with chases through the webs thereof, whereby each frame fixture may be prewirecl at the factory and so'equipp'ed with connecting couplings, not shown, that when'several frame fixtures are connected to one another electric circuits therethrough are automatically estab lished.

In Figs. '1, 2 and 3 there is shown one form of back fixture which comprises four jrame fixtures secured to one another and having supported thereon by suitable bracketsj variousfiller'units; viz., fluorescent light tubes II with the wiring therefor, coming up through the vertical chan nel members .3 and inwardl alone the brac ets. s ale re '22. snaves ine bo 5; a l o 'w... brack ts p ectin forwa lb/"ir a s 6 in a n 'er" r prev ous y o be es ribed For v nience th wid h o each fra e fixture is 4'0" and'the height the'reoffrom the top at the fl or which is suppor eri' the zon l 'ers 4f "the per. ends of the v rt ca h nnel members multiple of 7."- With such an arrangement, the lied Qutsi'de width dimensien ct each or t j J0" or nu t nle 02' d. the hei ht 9f a h filler unit is 7gr ple" thereof. BY. makin e. filler. units rea yremov'ab it c nn w be 'seen that'theycanbe variouslyshifted to substitut one. n th and th b accommoe ate d si ed chan es t e er se. fac itie Fur he mere. either rino hf 0i th en pan l 40 i be rem iat'w l an d'd rial-f am satire eas d s: husis ap s car sses is 'provided wherebythe' storage facilities may be rebat s; net h wn F ra leare funderstanqine of h S ct llustra d, in F s; 1 2 a lcfc e be made toFigs. nd 8 In d sired art cl i turesas required ar b m an be a nt v i l Wilt-r q red rame fixt r er, o; Sev r 'a ie sr t. t the horizontal Chan neu it d'o' m. the an es '9; n 'ztl e' y F ow r, ros bra es and t e if a ee f c Le e e s lmemb r .."s 'rvr s a c n en ent supportin me ns. q s whichj nails, screws orj thelik'e mayi pass should fi'b s i i jd, 9 .39. nt' floqf in place. Floor [8,, "as illustrated Fig} 6,, pllef be kinT h Ts andar s e t we. s

thereof.- mev r st he as. t. snows,

may, if desired, extend therebelow to the floor of the building. The flange 24 of the upper cross brace 2 and the flange IQ of the lower cross brace 2 provides a convenient means for attaching the back panel to the frame fixture.

The end panels "5, as illustrated in Fig. 2, are mounted adjacent the standards 6 at each end of the assembly and may be secured to the ends of the floor H3. The top panel 25 is supported by the vertical channel members 3 and the cross brace 2 thereacross and by the upper ends of the panels it. In the case of furniture comprising two or more frame fixtures the intermediate portions of the top panel 25 are supported by brackets 26 which extend forwardly from the upper ends of the standards 6. To provide an ornate appearance and to hold the end panel [8 in "place a vertical strip 21, see Fig. 2, is secured to theyertical channel member 3 by suitable bolts 28 or the like. The detailed structure of such strip 21 is set forth in the description relating to Fig. 10.

The structure thus far described essentially comprises .an open front cabinet without any intermediate obstructions between the opposite ends including as the framework thereof several frame fixtures with floor, end, rear, and top panels mounted thereon.

The brackets '26 for supporting the top panel 25 are provided at the'forward ends thereof with a socket fixture for receiving a fluorescent light tube H, the wiring for lighting said tube running rearwardly along the brackets 26 and thence downwardly along the vertical channel members 3 tofthewiring chases l0. Surrounding a portion of such tube I I is a shield'or reflector M. In Fig. 1 several of. such lights I I are provided and, if desired, suitable dust covers may be supported by'the forward ends of the brackets 26.

As previously mentioned, the brackets project ing forwardly from the standard 5 may be adjusted vertically for supporting thereon any one or several 'filler units, such'filler units being of width equal to one or more frame fixtures and of height in thecase of drawer sub-frames, for example, equal to, or a multiple of the height modulus, which in this case has been indicated as being 7".

Eiller units such as the hang rods 12 and the shelves i 3"simply"rest on the brackets 8 which project forwardly from the standards 6. As shown in'Eig. 6.,"the brackets 8 are so made that ei'ther'a shelf [3 or a'hang'" rod 12 may be selectively supported thereon.

Infthe case'or. filler, units such as the drawers tdfthe drawers themselves will be slidably mounted in a separate sub-frame 29 having giroovescformed in the opposite ends thereof for slidably receiving thebra'ckets '30 which project rorwardly from the standards. With such consti uction, the filler unit, including the drawers slidable therein, may'be readily removed and a different 'filler' unit inserted in its place. The brackets 30,. are adjustable vertically along the standard, 6.110 accommodatevarious filler units of as are commonly used for such purpose. the upper ends of the vertical channel memshown therein a typical glass showcase in which one frame fixture is used as the basic framework. In'this' case, the ,upper surfaceof the floor 32' is rabbeted to receive the lower edges of the front and en'd pieces 33 and 34. The vertical edges of the pieces 33 and 34 are joined by suitable trim, molding or connecting fixtures such Over bers 3 is a glass plate 35 suitably secured to the other glass plates 33 and 34. As in the case of the previously described units a lamp H and shield 3| are supported by the brackets 26 which channel member 3 and a flange 39 overlying the outside'of. the rear portion of the end piece 34 to hold the same in place against the side of the standard 6. The strips 21 are held in place as by the bolts 28.

Mounted between the webs of the vertical channel members 3 and the upper and lower cross braces 2 is a frame 4a which has formed therein a pair of tracks for the sliding door panels 4| and 42.

While the showcase illustrated in Figs. 5, 9 and 10 is shown as comprising a single frame fixture, the same may readily be expanded by simply removing the strip Zl, end piece 34 and base 36 from one end thereof and connecting a second frame fixture thereto.

In Fig. 11 is illustrated a pre-wired fixture 43 in which the cross-brace 2 across the horizontal channel members 4 has electrical outlet boxes 44 secured thereto, said members 4 being provided I with holes 45 for jumpers (not shown) from one frame fixture to the next. Extending from one of the boxes 44 rearwardly along one of the horizontal channel members 4 and upwardly along the corresponding vertical channel member 3 is an electrical conduit 46 provided with a receptacle 4'! at its upper end for enabling convenient plugging in of the previously described lamp II or other device.

A further feature of the frame fixture illustrated in Fig. 11 is the provision of standards 48 on the members 3 which form grooves with the latter for slidably receiving boards or panels 43. ,Said panels 49 may be of any desired form, for example either in one piece or in several pieces of tongue and groove, spline, or like construction. In any event, panels 49 of appropriate color and design may be readily inserted thereby dispensing with laborious redecoration of the walls of the rooms in instances where the fixtures cannot accommodate such removable panels or redecoration of the panels in instances where the panels constitute irremovable rear Walls of the fixtures.

The above-described structures are to be re garded as merely typical, it being understood that they may be variously modified as far as trim is concerned to appeal to individual tastes with regard to the aesthetic features thereof. The principal features of the structures illustrated are that with a single form of L-shaped frame fixture and several different filler units, it is possible to erect many different combinations which may be readily modified as previously indicated. Although the brackets herein disclosed include hooks thereon for adjustable connection thereof to the standards it will be apparent that other means of so connecting the brackets may be employed. Y

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalentof such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an article of furniture, the combination of a series of endwise abutting L-shaped frame fixtures detachably connected to one another, said frame fixtures as thus connected together constituting the basic unit about which an article of furniture may be constructed, each of said frame fixtures comprising a pair of horizontally and vertically extending members with cross braces therebetween holding the same in parallel spaced relation, vertically adjustable and removable brackets disposed above said horizontal members and projecting horizontally from said vertical members, filler units removably supported at their opposite ends'by said brackets, each of said filler units being of a width substantially equal to the width of one or more of said frame fixtures whereby said filler units and brackets may be shifted to various positions and L- shaped frame fixtures may be added or subtracted to change the amount of space for filler units or the nature of said filler units.

2. An L-shaped frame fixture for furniture of the character described, comprising a pair of L- shaped members of channel shaped cross section opening in opposite directions so that, when two or more of said frame fixtures are attached together in endwise abutting relation, closed L- shaped conduits are defined therebetween, cross braces extending between said members holding the same in spaced apart parallel relation, a perforated standard on one fiange of one of the legs of each of said members, and two of said cross braces being of angle cross section with the flanges thereof disposed fiush with the ends and one of the flanges of said members.

3. In an article of furniture, the combination of a series of endwise abutting L-shaped frame fixtures detachably connected to one another, said frame fixtures as thus connected together constituting the basic unit about which an article of furniture may be constructed, each of said frame fixtures comprising a pair of horizontally and vertically extending members with cross braces therebetween holding the same in parallel spaced relation, vertically adjustable and removable brackets disposed above said horizontal members and projecting horizontally from said vertical members, filler units removably supported at their opposite ends by said brackets, each of said filler units being of a width substantially equal to the width of one or more of said frame fixtures whereby said filler units and brackets may be shifted to various positions and L-shaped frame fixtures may be added or subtracted to change the amount of space for filler units or the nature of said filler units, a. top panel supported by the upper ends of said series of frame fixtures, end panels secured adjacent the outside of the horizontal and vertical members of those frame fixtures which are disposed at the ends of the series thereof, and means se- :gr g

7 curin s id e d panels as aie said *w e b d op panel is dd tionally uppor d by the "top e es o said en nanels- 4. In an article of furniture, the combination of a series of endwise abutting L-shaped frame fixtures detachably connected to one another, said frame fixtures as thus connected together constituting the basic unit about which an article of furniture may be constructed, each of said frame fixtures comprising a pair of horizontally and vertically extending members with cross braces therebetween holding the same in parallel spaced relation, vertically adjustable and removable brackets disposed above said horizontal members and projecting horizontally from said vertical members, filler units removably sup ported at their opposite ends by said brackets, each of said filler units being of a width substantially equal to the width of one or more of said frame fixtures whereby said filler units and brackets may be shifted to various positions and L-shaped frame fixtures may be added or subtracted to change the amount of space for filler units or the nature of said filler units, a top panel supported by the upper ends of said series of frame fixtures, end panels secured adjacent the outside of the horizontal and vertical members of those frame fixtures which are disposed at the ends of the series thereof, means securing said end panels as aforesaid whereby said top panel is addltionallysupported :bythe top edges ofsaid end panels, a .fioor supported by said horizontal members, said floor being formed with grooves extending forwardly from said vertical members and another groove-connecting the forward ends of such first-namedgrooves, said end panels having their lower edges disposed in such first-named grooves respectively, a front panel having its lower edge disposed in said another groove, means for securing the side edges of said front panel and the front edges of said end panels to one another and to said fixture, :said vertical members and two of said cross braces defining a rear opening of rectangular form, and a door frame fitted ROBERT A. LITTLE,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,273,397 Neill July 23, 1918 1,805,989 Levene May 19, 1931 1,938,450 Eustis Dec. 5, 1933 2,360,451 Stone Oct. 17, 1944 2,375,726 Bates May 8, 1945 2,386,396 -Holabird Oct. '9, 1945 2,433,100 Derman Dec. 23, 1947 2,443,515 Rockwell June 15, 1948 2,520,506 Mankki Aug. .29, 1950 

